Two Severn Trent workers were tackling
the burst beneath a footpath in the Hinckley cemetery last Thursday morning when they stumbled upon a small brick-lined room under the ground

Workmen tackling a leak in the churchyard of St Mary’s uncovered a long lost burial chamber containing human remains.

Two Severn Trent workers were tackling
the burst beneath a footpath in the Hinckley graveyard last Thursday morning when they stumbled upon a small brick-lined room under the ground full of water - and when they pumped the hidden chamber dry, they
found it contained bones and skulls from multiple bodies.

Mark
Kirk, of the Severn Trent digging team, made the discovery. He said: “When we struck it the bricks fell away and we saw water in there, it was full to the top.

“We dropped our pump in and when I looked in there I saw a skull looking back at me.”

The
now church plans to reseal the chamber, and is to take the advice of the Diocese of Leicester over whether Leicestershire Police need to be informed of the find.

Reverend John Whittaker told the Times: “We know there’s lots of people buried in our churchyard but we weren’t aware of this amazing brick lined burial chamber.

“The general procedure if you disturb any remains is we try to disturb them as little as we can and make good the area around whatever we uncover.

“Although these remains are well over 100 years old, we will treat them in a dignified way.”

Malcolm
Lockett, of Hinckley Archaeological Society, inspected the entrance to the chamber, and believes it is most likely to be Victorian judging by the bricks used in its construction.

He said: “To be buried in a chamber you’re likely to be more than your average Joe Bloggs. It is probably a family tomb. It’s close to the church chancel, so it was not like they were being bunged up in the corner.

“The main block of brick work is probably Victorian. The burials may be somewhere in the church records.”

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